Situated adjacent to the Kaohsiung High-Speed Rail station, the new headquarters for Allmind Holdings represents a forward-thinking approach to workplace architecture. The project redefines the traditional office as a fluid, people-focused environment that promotes wellbeing, collaboration, and adaptability. It responds to the shifting dynamics of work by integrating flexible spatial arrangements and sustainable strategies.
The building occupies a narrow, dual-fronted site within a dense urban fabric. Mecanoo’s design employs a clear spatial hierarchy, dividing the programme into two distinct zones: a compact, enclosed core housing vertical circulation and services, and a more open, flexible workspace along the building’s outer edge. This configuration addresses the structural challenges posed by the site’s elongated proportions while maximising the openness of three facades for daylight access, views, and spatial flexibility.
The layout enables a range of office scenarios to be easily accommodated and reconfigured over time, ensuring the headquarters remains resilient to organisational change. Generous floor-to-ceiling heights and a clear spatial grid further enhance adaptability, while reinforcing the sense of openness throughout.
Levels one to three are designed to establish a strong connection between the company and the surrounding urban environment. These floors are publicly accessible and programmed to support both internal and external engagement. A street-facing café welcomes visitors and staff alike, blurring the boundary between work and daily life and offering an informal setting for informal meetings and social exchange.
At the heart of this public zone is a double-height atrium anchored by a wide, stepped seating area. More than just circulation, this spatial element functions as an internal amphitheatre, hosting events, lectures, casual presentations, or even group lunches. It provides a spatial and cultural anchor for the building, encouraging cross-departmental interaction and shaping a more vibrant, inclusive office culture.
The façade is conceived as a responsive, rhythmic skin that balances contextual integration with distinct architectural expression. Sienna powder-coated aluminium panels are paired with large areas of glass, referencing the warm tones of the surrounding buildings while introducing a contemporary material contrast. Deep-set vertical fins provide shading and articulate the façade with a sense of depth and movement, responding to the tropical climate of southern Taiwan.
A system of modular façade units introduces variation in material opacity, grid density, and panel size. These subtle shifts create a layered effect, breaking down the overall scale and enhancing the building’s visual richness. This system also supports efficient construction and long-term maintenance, combining aesthetic refinement with functional logic.
Green balconies punctuate the façade at irregular intervals, introducing vegetation into the building envelope in a deliberate, playful manner. Rather than continuous planted terraces, these green elements - indoors and outdoors - are selectively distributed to provide visual interest and microclimatic benefits. The planting contributes to urban biodiversity, improves air quality, and enhances the environmental performance of the building. These external green spaces are integrated into the workplace experience, offering breakout spaces and informal meeting spots.